The Minister for the Environment, Mark H Durkan, has this week published the Strategic Planning Policy Statement (SPPS) forNorthern Ireland.
The SPPS reduces 20 separate planning policy statements to one. This provides the policy on key issues such as town centres and retail development, building in the countryside, creating and enhancing shared space, tourism, telecommunications and housing.
Mark H Durkan said: “Publishing the SPPS unlocks development potential, supports job creation and will aid economic recovery but not at the expense of our planet, environment and people. It consolidates over 800 pages of existing policy in to a single document and brings clarity and certainty to important planning matters throughout the North.”
“The SPPS will enable councils to be flexible in bringing forward planning policy tailored to local circumstances through their new Local Development Plans.”
The SPPS and accompanying documents can be accessed on the Planning NI Website at www.planningni.gov.uk/SPPS
